CRT-P

not just for heart failure

by Tracey_E - 2023-01-20 14:28:30

CRT can help with heart failure by syncing the left and right ventricles. Traditional 2 lead pacers only pace the right ventricle. Some doctors use the third lead to prevent heart failure and/or improve the efficiency. You can ask why it was chosen for you over 2 leads. 

Thank you Tracey_E

by Westy - 2023-01-20 15:00:35

Thank you for the info. X

I have a CRT-P

by Lavender - 2023-01-20 15:21:15

My CRT-P was placed almost two years ago because I had complete heart block. I also take no meds. I don't have an enlarged heart and do have a normal EF. Electrical signals do not go from your atria to your ventricles at all with a complete heart block.  There is a complete failure of electrical conduction. I was told my block was due to normal aging and the pacemaker fixes it. 

A CRT-P is an implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker for patients with heart failure. The device monitors the heart's rhythm, detects irregularities and corrects them with electrical impulses.

Complete heart [atrioventricular (AV)] block (CHB) is a condition in which no conduction of electrical impulses occurs from atria to ventricles.

It can be a real surprise to end up with a pacemaker but it also is a real gift having a device that keeps your heart beating! I see that you're going on three months with your CRT-P!🌸

CRT-P

by AgentX86 - 2023-01-20 16:17:13

CRT pacemakers aren't necessarily for heart failure but "cardiomyopathy" or enlargement of the heart, which can lead to heart failure. As Lavendar said, thier purpose is to more naturally synchronize the two halves of the heart so they don't beat "against" each other. 

Again, they're usually chosen to correct an enlarged heart or because the heart doesn't pump as much blood as it should (usually because of cardiomyopathy and causing heart failure) but in your case, I would suspect that, because of your unusual physiology, that your cardiologist wants to make sure your "ejection fraction" (the percentage of blood pumped during a heart beat) remains normal.

I have a heart block, though intentionally, and also have a CRT-P  with no cardiomyopathy or reduced ejection fraction. In my case, my atria (top half of the heart) does nothing.  There aren't even any leads for the pacemaker to sense atrial activity.  I haven't asked but I suspect that I have a CRT, with the extra lead as a backup. The bottom line is that because some thing "done because" it doesn't mean that's the only reason.  If you're concerned, ask your doctor.  It should be mentioned in your visit documentation.

BTW, it's not complete heart "blockage", rather "block".  A blockage is a narrowing of an artery.  A block is where the electrical signal from the atriua doesn't make it to the ventricles. The words can be confusing but they're very different.

Transposition

by Lavender - 2023-01-20 17:21:24

Westy confirmed that this is the condition she has:

Babies born with l-transposition usually aren't blue. The congenital heart defect may go undetected for a long time. It might not be diagnosed until well into adulthood when congestive heart failure, heart murmurs and abnormal heart rhythms can develop. 

Patients may have problems with heart muscle, tricuspid valve leakage or heart rhythm as they enter adulthood, whether or not they had prior surgery. Abnormally slow heart rhythms may cause fainting or fatigue. The most worrisome slow heart rhythm, complete heart block, is common in l-transposition.

A pacemaker may be required in the event of abnormally slow heart rhythms. You should also consult a cardiologist with expertise in caring for adults with congenital heart disease.

Westy has her pacemaker now so she's getting correction of her heart rhythm. 

l-transposition

by AgentX86 - 2023-01-21 00:09:31

My granddaughter had this defect.  She had open heart surgery to repair it when she was two days old, as soon as they could transport her to Children's Hospital in Boston. The weather was too bad for a medivac helicopter so had to take an ambulance the ~150 miles.

The doctors at Children's Hospital were pi$$ed off at the local hospital (not a tiny one).  They should have caught it in-utero and fixed it before birth or at least had the delivery where it could be operated on immedately.

AgentX86

by Westy - 2023-01-21 06:07:34

Agentx86 glad they sorted it out with ur granddaughter and she's ok now. I'm 38 and they just found out I went for ecg cos kept having low heart rate. Side will need a operation later on in life but. But not sure what that it will be as I never asked. Thanks for the info x